The 3 Biggest Lawn Care Misconceptions

In the green industry, otherwise known as the landscaping industry, just about anyone can call themselves an "expert." If you spend any time on the web looking for lawn care advice, you will get opinions on just about everything from how to grow grass, maintain and care for it, and even how to grow it indoors on your window sill.

On the other end of the spectrum, you will find just as many sites that are completely against the concept of residential lawn care and turf in the first place!

The good news, however, is that there are several universal truths about lawns that we all agree on. Sadly, these truths are also the most common mistakes made by homeowners. So, with the collective thought power of the entire green industry at stake, here are three of the most common misconceptions about lawn care and how you can avoid them.

You Need To Irrigate Your Turf Everyday

I can tell you from seeing my own neighbors' perpetually turning sprinklers that there is a lot of water wasted on residential lawns. I think people feel the need to water their lawns every single day because of the shear vastness of grass they own. I understand that feeling, but your watering bill has got to be a clue that something is amiss!

There are two types of homeowners in the "I water everyday" category.

1) The first are those that keep their sprinklers running daily for hours and hours. Truth be told, watering your lawn everyday in this manner is worse than not watering at all! Too much water will literally drown grass plants, or at best, cause fungal formation in the root system.

2) The second type is more commonly seen with those who have automatic irrigation systems. These are often set to click on everyday for 15 minutes per zone and then shut off. This is a bad idea because the small amount of water that is laid out in 15 minutes is not enough to penetrate the soil.

This causes grass roots to turn upwards to get that water, creating a thatch problem. If you've ever walked across a lawn that feels 'spongy,' chances are it is being watered lightly and often.

The solution to this misconception is to water 2 or 3 times per week moderately and consistently. Buy a rain gauge, or ask your lawn care service to get one for you, and set it out when you water. You want to lay down between 1 and 1.5 inches of water per week. Spreading this amount over 2 or 3 cycles is best. Be sure to allow the soil to dry out in between irrigation days.

Cutting The Grass Low Means Less Mowing

Truthfully, if you cut your lawn low and scalp it, you won't have to mow very often. In fact, you may never have to mow again as your lawn will die!

Remember, grass is a plant, and the green part is its leaf. You will remember from high school biology class that plants produce sugars for energy through their leaves. This is called "photosynthesis." Without boring you with too much science, the bottom line is: if you take out too much of the leaf, the plant dry out, decline or even die.

Whether you like it or not, healthy lawns need to be trimmed regularly only having one-quarter of the leaf blade removed in one single cutting. It is like trimming your dog's toenails. You don't want to go too deep or you could hurt him!

If you are in doubt about how tall (or short) to cut your lawn based on the type of grass you have, set your mower to the second-to-highest setting and rest assured, you'll be fine. Just mow weekly at this setting and your lawn will thank you.

It Is Possible To Prevent Lawn Weeds

If your lawn care company had a method for preventing weeds, they'd be wealthy beyond any expectations! As you know, weeds grow from seed. Seeds end up under your lawn (down in the soil) and lay in wait for perfect heat and moisture conditions. Sometimes, this means years of laying in wait. That is why some years are worse than others when it comes to dandelions, for example.

Crab grass is not truly a weed, but it can be prevented with an early spring application or pre-emergent herbicide. Sadly, this pre-emergent does not stop stubborn weeds.

The best way to keep your lawn weed free is to stay on a regular lawn care treatment program where weed problems can be addressed as they arise. If you get the weeds out soon after they emerge, you can reduce the amount of seeds they spread, however, you can't always control what your neighbors do, so you will always have weeds, not matter what you do.

I hope these three common misconceptions will help you in determining your lawn's future progress, growth and vigor. Always remember, lawn care is not difficult, but it does require planning and regular maintenance.